Chicago Fundraiser Benefits Local Boys Battling Neuroblastoma

The Donate Your Way fundraiser is an annual fundraising event that offers something different and unique in terms of charitable giving. It was created in 2009 by Eleni Demertzis, Gina Gianakopoulos, Gia Marinis and Maria Kiagias. This year’s event will benefit two Chicago boys battling Neuroblastoma.

Donate Your Way works in two different ways. By hosting a toy drive and collecting monetary funds, two different causes can benefit from one event, thus allowing people to donate the way they wish. An event will be held on December 9 in Chicago.

Unwrapped toys are collected and donated to the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation Toy Drive, which distributes toys during the holiday season to less fortunate children throughout the state of Illinois.

This year, the group decided to go a step further and selected two area families in need. They recently learned about two very special boys, both battling Neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer. These boys, Theofanis Yianas,6 and Stathis Saltis,2 are in and out of hospitals, undergoing treatments, and constantly being testing to track the progress of those treatments. The medical expenses are piling up. Therefore, this year, all monetary funds collected – through donations, silent auction and more – will be split 50-50 among each family, to help defray the growing medical costs. It’s a great way to give back this holiday season, by giving directly to a family and knowing that your kindness and generosity really made a difference.